Jamie Carragher predicts Chelsea title triumph after retiring a Liverpool hero to become Sky Sports pundit

Prospect of Mourinho taking over an already "really good" team gives Blues the edge as the top three adjust to new managers

Special ones: Chelsea are Carragher's current favourites to win the league

Chelsea are Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher’s tip for the top in one of the most eagerly anticipated Premier League seasons for years.

With last season's top three clubs all changing manager this summer - unprecedented in the history of the competition - it paves the way for a fascinating battle for the title.

And putting his pundit’s hat on, the former Liverpool man isn’t afraid to court controversy - or annoy his new colleague Gary Neville - with a surprise pick to be champions.

“If you put me on the spot and ask me right now, 'Who will win the league?', then I’d pick Chelsea,” he explained.

“I’d pick them because Mourinho is coming back, and also because they actually have a very good team - they had a really good team last season, with some fantastic players.

“You look at the Premier League last season, most people would say that Suarez, Bale and Van Persie were the top three players.

“But Mata and Hazard were probably four and five, and this season under a different manager they could easily go on and become THE top players in the league - that’s the quality they have.”

Carragher believes it is the imposing presence of Mourinho back at the Stamford Bridge club that will tip the scales their way - especially with new managers settling into daunting challenges at both Manchester clubs.

After the disharmony at the London club with the unpopular Rafa Benitez at the helm last season, the former England defender argued that the Special One will inspire players who remained unconvinced by their previous manager.

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Ex factor: Will Mourinho fill his boots as Moyes and Pellegrini bed in?

“Mourinho is obviously a big factor. The players clearly respect him and adore him and I imagine they will go the extra yard for him. He will get the best out of that squad, they have a manager now they will fight for,” he added.

“I believe Mourinho could make the difference in the Premier League this season. He’s a special manager and he knows how to get results.”

Carragher admitted to the curious feeling on the day when the fixtures were unveiled, not least because in his new role he needed to look beyond the usual attractions for Liverpool, towards the wider excitement of the Premier League summit.

And he reckons David Moyes has been given a tough opening to his new Old Trafford career by a fixture list that does him few favours in the unenviable task of succeeding Sir Alex Ferguson.

“I do think he faces a baptism of fire with that fixture list - all eyes will be on them now,” he said.

“Swansea away - anyone away first game - it’s a tough game, a big game for Swansea, full house and United drew there last season, so it’s not an easy place to go.

“Then you look at the next two fixtures, the big one for him is his first home game and you want to get off to a really good start in front of your home supporters and you’ve got Chelsea and Mourinho coming, so you can imagine the build up to that game.

“That’s really tough, and he knows himself if the game at Anfield doesn’t go too well there is going to be a lot of talk of Man United at the early start of the season - there will be all eyes on Moyes.

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Sticky start: Moyes' United host Chelsea and visit Liverpool early on

“That’s why he is going to United of course, he didn’t have that profile at Everton. But it’s still something he will have to get used to, and the rest of the teams at the top will be hoping it gives them a chance to capitalise.

“Normally, I look at the fixtures and see when Liverpool are playing United, but this time I was just as excited to see Chelsea playing Manchester United in the first game at Old Trafford.

“It could be very significant at such an early stage of the season, and I’m really excited about that game.”

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